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3 free agent pitchers that could save the Dodgers' crumbling rotation
Yet another postseason has ended much too early for the Los Angeles Dodgers following a 100-win campaign. After a painfully hard-to-watch three-game sweep at the hands of NL West-rival Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers are now left with plenty of questions to answer this winter. The most important, however, is: what will they do to help bolster their rotation for a deep playoff run?
At a time, this wasn’t an issue at all for the organization. In years past, young but talented players like Julio Urías, Walker Buehler, and Dustin May were seen as the future, while Clayton Kershaw would continue to be the stabilizing ace at the top. Well, unfortunately, injuries and off-field issues really ruined these future plans. As for Kershaw, as amazing as he is, he has had a tendency to struggle in the postseason and has been battling injuries consistently since 2015.
One bright side is the emergence of Bobby Miller, who looks like he can be a long-term ace. Although Miller did struggle in his one and only playoff start, it’s fair to give him a pass since it was his first ever postseason game, and that can take some time to adjust to. This still leaves holes that need to be filled, though, so here are three upcoming free agents that the Dodgers need to target in order to address their glaring rotation issue.
3 free agent pitchers that could save the Dodgers' crumbling rotation
Blake Snell
Starting off with the likely NL Cy Young Award winner, Blake Snell. At 30 years old, Snell is coming off the second-best season of his career. If not for his incredible 2018, this would've easily taken the cake. With an 2.25 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in 32 games started in 2023, it’s clear why he should be the NL Cy Young winner. On top of his regular season success, Snell has logged 12 playoff games in his career, where he holds a 3.33 ERA. Dodgers fans are tired of regular season success that ends up amounting to nothing, but Snell has the ability to bring top-notch production through October.
An added bonus would be taking him away from division-rival San Diego Padres, who could still be a threat next year despite an awful 2023. However, Snell will be highly sought after by any team looking to win, and he’s set to receive a massive payday. The time, effort and money are all worth it for a pitcher of his caliber. Snell should be the Dodgers top priority who isn't named Shohei Ohtani this coming free agency.
Aaron Nola
Another can’t-miss option is Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola. The Phillies are currently in the midst of yet another impressive postseason run. One difference between this year and last is how Nola is performing. In last year's postseason, Nola started five games, and the first two went quite well. He pitched a total of 12.2 innings with zero earned runs. However, in the next three starts combined, Nola pitched only 13 innings, never going beyond 4.2 innings, and gave up 14 earned runs.
This year he's found consistency. In his three games, Nola has pitched 18.2 innings and allowed just two earned runs, both of which came in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves. If Nola was struggling similarly to last year, he would not make this list, but he's showing how he can thrive in the high-pressure situations that come with playoff baseball.
Nola's standout quality is his availability. Over the past three seasons, he has showcased this reliability by starting 32 games in all of them. He also started 12 games in the shortened 2020 season, 34 in 2019, and 33 in 2018. They say the best ability is availability, which the Dodgers really found out this year, and Nola can give them that.
Jordan Montgomery
The final spot on this list goes to another player who is still competing in the playoffs. In 2022, Jordan Montgomery was a Yankee before, rather abruptly, being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals at the deadline. Then, after the Cardinals had a very disappointing 2023, he was again traded at the deadline to the Texas Rangers. The Dodgers should take the opportunity to give Montgomery a long-term home in Los Angeles after what's transpired since the Yankees trade.
This has been Montgomery's first shot to really show what he can do in the playoffs. He made the postseason with the Yankees in 2020 and again with the Cardinals in 2022, but only pitched a total of 6.2 innings in two games. However, this season, like Nola, Montgomery is having himself an impressive 2023 playoff run. In four starts and 22.1 innings pitched for the Rangers, he's given up only six runs, showing that he can handle the big stage. As for the regular season, he has made at least 30 starts in each of the last three seasons while maintaining a sub-4.00 ERA.
If Snell proves too difficult to sign, then Montgomery would be an excellent left-handed alternative to pivot their focus on.